ROCKFORD — Republican Bruce Rauner told about 275 people — mostly women — at a Rockford Country Club luncheon today that he has four goals if he were to succeed in his campaign for Illinois governor: to grow jobs, reduce taxes, invest in education, and take out cronyism in government.

Job growth is the top priority.

“We need a strong, growing economy; that is the key to everything else,” he said. “Our regulations and taxes are punishing to business. Arbitrators always go against business owners.”

As part of growing the economy, he said those who run government ought to be the best qualified for their positions, not unqualified friends of those in power. “We have to put people in office who are not hostile to business,” he added.

Education is also critical. “There is nothing more important than education, (though) it is not the sole answer,” he said.

Among the school improvements he’d like to make would be to redo the education funding formula, get rid of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) and put more vocational training in place.

“We are doing this for our kids,” Rauner said of the reason he and Evelyn Sanguinetti, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, are running for office. “We want to work for every family.”

Sanguinetti said school choice through a voucher system, as well as charter schools and technical training for high schoolers, can bolster education and improve family life.

An audience member asked Rauner how he’d handle the pension funding crisis. He said he proposes a two-tier system for government employees by grandfathering in those who were promised pensions and creating a second pension system for future work.

The luncheon was presented by Women for Rauner.

Susan Dillon of Machesney Park, an attorney who attended the luncheon, said Rauner appeals to women because he’s not only a family man but he’s successful. He is married, has six children and is chairman of R8 Capital Partners and former chairman of the private equity firm GTCR, based in Chicago.

“He comes across as he truly cares, and he wants to shake things up,” she said. She said more jobs are especially important.

Rauner made six stops in Boone and Winnebago counties today, mostly at businesses.